Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• on Sleaninga forda c.1030 YCh7

• Sclen(n)eford(e) 1086 DB

• Sleningford, Slenyngford 12 RegAlbiii,29d 1160–80 Yorke 12 Font 1198,13 Fount 1216–67 Ripi a.1266,1303 KF 1687 RipQS

• Sleningforth 1429 YDviii 1622 FF

• Slenigford c.1120 Yorke Hy2 RegAlbiii,28

• Sclenyngeford 1130–5 RegAlbi,36d

• Sclenyngforth 1457 FountBurs

• Sleninford 1154–67 Font

• Slenyford 1245 Font

• Scleiningeford 1204 FF

• Scleynyngford 1524 YDx

• Slanygford 1204–11 Font

• Slaningford 1665 Visit

• Slennyngfurth 1485 WillY

• Slynyngforth 1581 PRRip

Etymology

The first el. would appear to be an OE folk-name Sleaningas but no satisfactory suggestion can be made to explain it. Ekwall's suggestion of an OE  *slēa (gen. slēan ) cognate with Norw  slaa 'grass- grown slope' will not account for it, unless we assume an older p.n. slēan 'the slopes' as the basis, v. ford .